Articulated holder for pouring tube

ABSTRACT

In a continuous casting machine in which molten metal flows from a ladle to a tundish or from a tundish to a casting mold through a valve controlled passage, a holder for a tubular device is provided having power cylinder for raising and lowering the device with respect to the tundish or mold. The device is connected to said power cylinder by a linkage permitting universal movement of said device in a horizontal plane so that the tubular device may be brought into register with the passage.

United States Patent ['19] Tuschak et al.

I451 May 20, 1975 ARTICULATED HOLDER FOR POURING TUBE Inventors: George Tuschak, Rego Park, N.Y.;

Karl L. Backhaus, West New York, NJ.

Concast Incorporated, New York, NY.

Filed: Sept. 25, 1973 Appl. No.: 400,686

Assignee:

US. Cl 222/533; 222/560 Int. Cl. B22d 37/00 Field of Search 222/531, 533, 536, 557,

7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1898 Levy 164/136 9/1954 Smith 222/533 X 4/1969 Falk 164/337 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 874,886 7/1971 Canada 222/533 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-David A. Scherbel Attorney, Agent, or FirmSandoe, Hopgood & Calimafde [57] ABSTRACT In a continuous casting machine in which molten metal flows from a ladle to a tundish or from a tundish to a casting mold through a valve controlled passage, a holder for a tubular device is provided having power cylinder for raising and lowering the device with respect to the tundish or mold. The device is connected to said power cylinder by a linkage permitting universal movement of said device in a horizontal plane so that the tubular device may be brought into register with the passage.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAYZOIQYS SHEET '2 UP FIG?) I ARTICULATEI) HOLDER FOR POURING TUBE This invention relates to continuous casting machines and pertains particularly to a holder for tubular devices such as pouring nozzles used for conducting molten metal from a ladle to a tundish, or from a tundish to a continuous casting mold, or as a holder of a torch for opening a blocked exit passage in a pouring vessel.

Pouring nozzles are subject to relatively rapid erosion due both to chemical reactions and mechanical stresses, and when weakened or broken by erosion, it is necessary to replace them. Such replacements are required quite frequently. And because replacement is often required in the midst of a casting operation, ability to make a replacement quickly and easily is highly important.

In continuous casting operations, and particularly in the continuous casting of steel, molten metal is customarily transported from a furnace to the casting machine in a bottom pour ladle having a tubular nozzle connected to the bottom of the ladle through which the metal may flow. Flow through the nozzle is controlled by a valve.

The molten metal in the ladle is usually poured into a tundish, in which case the tundish is provided with a tubular nozzle connected to the bottom of the tundish, and in which the flow through said nozzle is also con trolled by a valve.

In each case, in order to reduce oxidation to a minimum, it is customary to submerge the exit end of the nozzle in the metal in the receiving vessel, i.e. in the tundish or in the mold, as the case may be, so that the flowing metal will not be exposed to the atmosphere. This requires that when the nozzle is in pouring positon, the exit end of the nozzle must be at a level below the rim of the receiving vessel. Therefore, in cases where it may be necessary to replace a nozzle, it is necessary to raise the nozzle to a level such that the exit end of the nozzle can clear the rim of the receiving vessel when the nozzle is moved sidewise to a position where it can be handled and replaced. In the case of a covered tundish, it must be raised sufficiently so that the exit end of the nozzle can clear the cover.

In continuous casting operations it also sometimes happens that the exit passage from the ladle or the tundish, as the case may be, becomes clogged and must be cleared. In such cases, it is desirable to bring a tubular device such as a torch or an oxygen lance to a position beneath the exit passage of the pouring vessel, so that the flame, which is to be aimed at the exit passage, is able to clear away any obstruction that may hinder the outflow of metal. Such an operation, which is known in the art as lancing, may be required at the start of the casting operation or it may become necessary during the casting operation. In any case, a quick and accurate positioning of the torch underneath the exit passage is necessary.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a holder for supporting a tubular device such as a nozzle or a torch and for moving it both vertically and horizontally with respect to the ladle, tundish or mold, as the case may be.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a holder comprising a linkage which permits the tubular device to move or be moved freely in all directions in a horizontal plane. Thus, in cases where the valve is a slide gate to which a nozzle is connected when in pouring position, the nozzle and bolder are able to move freely with the gate. Moreover, the linkage makes possible easy and quick centering of the tubular device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus, partly in section and partly broken away.

FIG. 2 is a plan view.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. I, and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation.

Referring to the drawings, in which the invention is described as applied to a holder for a nozzle, a conventional bottom pour ladle l is carried on a pair of parallel ladle supports 2. The ladle is provided with an outlet passage 11 therethrough. A conventional slide gate valve 4 is mounted on the bottom of the ladle having a passage 4' therethrough which is in register with a passage 11 when the gate valve is in open position as shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the valve is shown in closed position as necessary to permit removal and replacement of a nozzle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle 5 is seated against the gate valve in position to conduct molten metal from the ladle into'a receiving vessel such as the tundish 3. The upper end of the nozzle is provided with a flanged collar 12 which rests on a clevis 6 carrried on the free end of a holder arm 6. The nozzle may be secured in the clevis by a locking bolt 6".

In order to make possible universal movement of the nozzle in a horizontal plane with respect to the ladle, the holder arm 6 is pivotally mounted on a link 7 by a hinge pin 7, and link 7, in turn is pivotally mounted on a lifting slide 8 by a hinge pin 8'. Thus, by virtue of horizontal pivotal movement of the arm 6 on the vertical hinge pin 7, and by virtue of pivotal movement of the link 7 on the vertical hinge pin 8', the nozzle may move or be moved in any direction in a horizontal plane. In order to provide for vertical movement of the nozzle, the lifting slide 8 is mounted to slide on a guide column 9 which is mounted on and extends downwardly from a suitable fixed support such as one of the ladle supports 2. The lifting slide may be moved up and down on the column 9 by a power cylinder 10 also mounted on the support 2. The cylinder is: connected to the slide 8 by a piston rod- 10 and a clevis 10". Means are provided for preventing rotational movement of the lifting slide 8 with respect to the guide column 9, said means comprising a keyway 9" extending lengthwise of the guide column, and a key 9 on the slide which extends into the slot.

When it is desired to replace a worn or damaged nozzle,the slide gate 4 is first closed by moving it horizontally to the position of FIG. 3. Due to its capability for horizontal movement, the nozzle remains connected to the gate and moves with it. The ladle is then lifted vertically by a crane, causing the gate valve to separate from the nozzle. The ladle is lifted a distance sufficient to enable the holder arm 6 to lift the nozzle a distance sufficient to clear the top of the tundish cover. The power cylinder 10 is now activated to lift the nozzle clear of the tundish cover. Thereupon, the holder arm may be swung sideways to a position where the worn nozzle may be removed from the clevis 6 and replaced by another. Then the holder arm is swung back to bring the nozzle beneath the slide gate 4, after which the power cylinder is again activated to raise the holder arm and nozzle. As the nozzle approaches contact with the slide gate, the universalmovement permitted by the linkage" pensates automatically for any expansion or contrac- I tion of the holder arm due to temperature variations.

In an alternative mode of operation, the power cylinder may be activated to lower the nozzle from its engagement with the slide gate 4, permitting the ladle to be moved sideways at the same elevation, thus clearing the space above the nozzle, which can then be lifted by power cylinder 10 to clear the tundish cover and to be swung sideways to a position where the nozzle can be replaced.

The nozzle 4 can also be pressed directly against the exit member 13 in all those cases, where no slide gates are used but where the metal flow from the pouring vessel is controlled by conventional stopper rods which come into engagement with the upper end of the member 13.

What is claimed is:

1. In a continuous casting machine comprising a pouring vessel having an outlet passage in the bottom thereof and a receiving vessel, in combination, a tubular device, means for mounting said tubular device for universal movement in all directions in a horizontal plane, comprising a holder arm having said tubular device mounted on one end thereof, a link having one end pivotally connected to the other end of said arm, and means including a vertical guide column and a lifting slide pivotally connected to the other end of said link and mounted on said guide column for raising and lowering said tubular device with respect to said pouring vessel to bring said tubular device and said outlet passage into register.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a power cylinder and piston rod connected to said lifting slide.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said vertical guide column is provided with a vertical keyway, and a key on said lifting slide extending into said keyway to prevent rotation of said lifting slide on said column. 

1. In a continuous casting machine comprising a pouring vessel having an outlet passage in the bottom thereof and a receiving vessel, in combination, a tubular device, means for mounting said tubular device for universal movement in all directions in a horizontal plane, comprising a holder arm having said tubular device mounted on one end thereof, a link having one end pivotally connected to the other end of said arm, and means including a vertical guide column and a lifting slide pivotally connected to the other end of said link and mounted on said guide column for raising and lowering said tubular device with respect to said pouring vessel to bring said tubular device and said outlet passage into register.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a power cylinder and piston rod connected to said lifting slide.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said vertical guide column is provided with a vertical keyway, and a key on said lifting slide extending into said keyway to prevent rotation of said lifting slide on said column. 